Labour facing fresh anti-Semitism row as report is set to lay bare the scale of hate crimes against Jewish people for the first time

GLEN OWEN and MARTIN BECKFORD

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• Government is planning to release stand-alone figures for anti-Semitic offences
• Jewish group Community Security Trust recorded 727 incidents first half of year
• Corbyn supporter Frid Milani, 69, is accused of calling Lord Levy, a key ally of Tony Blair, a ‘Jewish pig’ and failed to show in court so is now facing arrest

The stand alone figures on anti-Semitic offences are part of a move to crack down on hate crime after a summer in which Mr Corbyn (pictured) himself was branded a ‘racist and anti-Semite’ by one of his own MPs

Bitter divisions over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party will be reopened by Ministers this week with official figures expected to show a rise in hate crimes against Jewish people.

In what Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters will perceive as a deliberate attempt to stoke rows within his party over the ‘racist’ behaviour of his supporters, the Government is planning to release stand-alone figures for anti-Semitic offences for the first time.

The move – part of a new drive to crack down on soaring hate crime – follows a summer in which a future Labour government was said to pose an ‘existential threat’ to British Jews, while Mr Corbyn himself was branded a ‘racist and anti-Semite’ by one of his own MPs.

Jewish safety group the Community Security Trust recorded 727 anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2018, including 34 that made specific reference to Labour.

However, the figures to be published this week are expected to provide more detail on the scale of the problem. The Mail on Sunday can also reveal that a Corbyn supporter is facing arrest after failing to appear in court to answer allegations that he branded a senior Labour figure a ‘Jewish pig’ and a ‘bloodsucker’.

Frid Milani, 69, is accused of telling Lord Levy, a key ally of former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, to ‘p*** off to Israel’ in an email on March 28.

The message allegedly read: ‘I see that you dare to criticise the Labour leader. Who the hell are you to comment on Jeremy Corbyn?

‘You are just another Jewish pig, bloodsucker living on taxpayers’ money. What are you doing in this country anyway?

 

Frid Milani, 69, is accused of calling Lord Levy (pictured), a key ally of former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, a ‘Jewish pig’ in an email. He is facing attest after failing to appear in court

‘Why don’t you p*** off to Israel? We don’t need Jewish bastards like you in this country.’

Mr Milani, who lives in Wembley, North-West London, was charged with sending a grossly offensive message, but failed to attend Westminster magistrates’ court last Wednesday.

Kerry Broome, prosecuting, said inquiries were being made at the defendant’s address, adding: ‘Police officers have attended. The blinds are shut, the property is locked, and there is no sign of any movement. Either Mr Milani is out or not willing to come to court. We cannot say which.’

She added: ‘Mr Milani refused to be interviewed on a number of occasions. Officers attended with a mobile recording device and he eventually consented to being interviewed but said nothing.’ Police also emailed Mr Milani, asking him to attend a police station for an interview.

‘He made further anti-Semitic remarks in one of the emails effectively suggesting he (the officer) was acting on the behest of the Jewish state,’ said the prosecutor.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot ordered Mr Milani be arrested and held in custody, adding: ‘I find that this defendant has not interacted with the police, in fact has insulted the officer.

‘I am satisfied that postal requisition has been sent to him at his address and also he has been avoiding the police. I will grant a warrant not backed for bail.’

Last night, Lord Levy, who raised more than £100 million for Labour during the Blair years and was Mr Blair’s personal envoy to the Middle East, said he was unable to comment for legal reasons.

Earlier this year, he criticised Labour for failing to combat anti-semitism within its ranks.

‘There has to be a zero-tolerance policy. Enough words,’ Lord Levy said. ‘They are just not taking this seriously.’

 

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